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Queen's nephew Earl of Snowdon announces 'amicable divorce'

KING'S LYNN, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 15: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) David, Earl of Snowdon and Serena, Countess of Snowdon attend the Sunday service at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Flitcham on January 15, 2017 near King's Lynn, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
David the Earl of Snowdon, and his wife Serena will divorce. (Getty Images)

The Queen’s nephew, the Earl of Snowdon, is to divorce after more than 25 years of marriage.

David Armstong-Jones, the son of the late Princess Margaret, and his wife Serena confirmed their separation in a statement.

It’s the second royal divorce to be confirmed in less than a week, after the Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips confirmed he and his wife Autumn had split up.

A spokesman for the Earl said: “The Earl and Countess of Snowdon have amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end and that they shall be divorced.

“They ask that the press respect their privacy and that of their family.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29:  Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon, and David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, attend a gala dinner celebrating the opening of the "Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams" exhibition at The V&A on January 29, 2019 in London, England.  (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for V&A)
Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon, and David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, attend a gala dinner in January 2019. (Getty Images)

The Earl became the second Earl of Snowdon after his father, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, the photographer, died in 2017.

Princess Margaret, the Queen’s younger and only sister, died in 2002.

The second Earl married Serena, who became the Countess of Snowdon, in October 1993.

They have two children, Viscount Linley, Charles Armstrong-Jones and Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones.

File photo dated 29/04/2011 of the then Viscountess and Viscount Linley at Westminster Abbey for the wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, The Earl of Snowdon, the son of the late Princess Margaret, and his wife the Countess of Snowdon have "amicably agreed" that their marriage has come to an end and will divorce, a spokesman for the couple has said.
The couple when they were Viscountess and Viscount Linley at Westminster Abbey for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. (Getty Images)
File photo dated 08/10/1993 of The Earl and Countess of Snowdon leaving St Margaret's Church, Westminster, after their wedding, the couple have "amicably agreed" that their marriage has come to an end and will divorce.
The couple at St Margaret's Church after their wedding in 1993. (Getty Images)

Read more: Who are the Queen's grandchildren?

The Earl was educated at Buckingham Palace alongside his cousin Prince Andrew.

He went on to become a furniture maker and chairman of Christie’s. He is 21st in line to the throne.

He is also known by his professional name David Linley, and produces luxury British accessories. He has reportedly created the interiors for a number of exclusive central London homes.

According to the MailOnline, Serena is a distant cousin of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. She ran a shop which sold candles and soaps from Provence in France but it closed in 2014.

The family previously split their time between Gloucestershire, Provence and Chelsea in London.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16:  (L to R)  David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon, and Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, attend Alexander Dundas's 18th birthday party hosted by Lord and Lady Dundas on December 16, 2017 in London, England.  (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The family at a birthday party in London in 2017. (Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 07: (L-R) David Armstrong-Jones, Margarita Armstrong-Jones speak to Queen Elizabeth II as they leave a Service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of Lord Snowdon at Westminster Abbey on April 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom.  (Photo by Hannah McKay - WPA Pool /Getty Images)
David Armstrong-Jones and Margarita speak to the Queen at a service of thanksgiving for the late 1st Earl of Snowdon, his father. (Getty Images)

Their daughter, Margarita, was a bridesmaid at Prince William and Catherine’s wedding in 2011, then aged eight.

Earlier in February, it was confirmed that Peter Phillips, the Queen’s oldest grandson, and his wife Autumn would divorce.

Phillips, 42, married Autumn in 2007 and the couple have two children, Savannah, nine and Isla, seven.

They said their split was “sad but amicable” adding it was the “the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship”.

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